Video: Mater Dei's Ayden Romo scores dazzling goal to win CIF Southern Section Open Division soccer final

Romo put a dazzling half-volley into the back of the net that made all the difference in the Open Division final

For a moment, the ball was floating 20 feet in the air and seemingly harmless.

The next moment, it found itself on the left foot of Mater Dei's Ayden Romo, who used a clinical, left-footed half-volley to sizzle the ball into the back of the net.

Romo's second-half goal was the difference in Mater Dei's 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Arlington High in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys soccer final at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach Friday evening.

Mater Dei's Ayden Romo scored the match's lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Arlington to win the CIF Southern Section Open Division final on Feb. 23, 2024 :: Action_shots714/Instagram

"We play a game in practice called 'baseball'," Romo told the Orange County Register. "We just work on volleys, half-volleys, first-time volleys. (The shot) just felt like home to me."

The Monarchs lifted the section's first-ever Open Division crown since moving to a new aggregate format that sees eight teams play twice in each round of the postseason. The team with the most goals after two games advances.

Mater Dei beat Montclair 4-2 (agg.) in the first round and San Clemente in the semifinals 3-2 (agg.) before taking down No. 1 seed Arlington, which only gave up six goals all season.

"This win meant everything," Romo added.

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Mater Dei sophomore Ayden Romo scored the goal that beat previously-undefeated Arlington in the ⁦@CIFSS⁩ Open Division soccer final tonight… pic.twitter.com/3kjcnjceep

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) February 24, 2024